Page 210 of Ride a Cowboy

Matt accepted his brother’s outstretched hand and shook it, adding just a touch of force to the squeeze. “Deal. May the best man win.”

Mark returned the pressure, adding to it. “Don’t worry. I will.”

Matt tightened his grip even more, before releasing his brother’s hand. “Going to be fun watching you fall on your ass.”

“Cocky ’til the end. Just remember I warned you. Race you to the barn?”

Matt had already set off at a run when he yelled the word “Go!”

Of course, Mark was too wise to him, and he’d taken off at exactly the same time. They both slapped their hands on the barn wall at the same second.

A tie. Matt couldn’t help but wonder who would come out ahead in their next race. It struck him that he liked the feel of the tie, of no one coming out ahead, of sharing the win with his brother.

Maybe a draw wasn’t such a bad thing.

Crap. What the fuck did that mean?

Chapter 4

Bridget had been surprised when Matt and Mark informed her they were taking turns with her riding lessons on her first day at the ranch. She’d been disappointed by the prospect of not getting to spend time with both of them, but she could hardly argue with their logic. Regardless of the wager, someone still had to run the ranch.

During her first day of riding lessons, she and Mark had begun a battle of cultures that carried over to her second day spent with Matt. While Bridget insisted there was nothing like a big city existence, Matt and Mark claimed the best way of life was found in the country. They continued to press their case with lots of little examples and, though it hurt her to admit, she could definitely see the appeal of their lifestyle. The first two days had flown by in a flurry of fun and laughter.

However, this morning, she’d woken up with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. It was her last day of lessons. Her excuse to see the twins would end this afternoon. She hadn’t expected that knowledge to depress her so much. The past few days had felt like a welcome respite from the endless, horrifying months since Lyle’s murder. She’d been able to close her eyes to the ugly terror that surrounded her at every turn and wallow in the warmth, humor and beauty of James Ranch. She wasn’t sure she’d ever been anywhere nicer in her life. It was going to be much harder to leave than she’d realized.

Unfortunately, time was not her friend and she had to go. She and Rodney hadn’t had much luck in tracking down the godmother Ellen, though if she was being truthful, Bridget could admit neither of them was trying very hard.

Rodney accompanied her to the ranch each day for her lessons, but once she was in the care of either Matt or Mark, he’d disappear into the house to visit with Jacob. She knew he was still watching over her, still anxious about her safety, but she suspected this break from reality was a welcome retreat for him as well. It was as if they’d stepped out of hell and straight into Eden. Neither of them was in a hurry to return to the cold, hard truths of their real lives.

She walked into the barn with Mark and Matt, wondering who would take over her lessons today and greedily hoping they’d both stay with her. She’d lost a tiny piece of her heart to each of them over the past few days…and for completely different reasons.

Mark had a slow, easy country charm she was hard-pressed to resist. He’d taken charge of her lessons the first day, introducing her to the horses and leading her step by step through the process of riding. He was a patient teacher. He’d never rushed her or become frustrated with her reticence around the animals.

Several times throughout that first day, she’d gotten off Jewel, swearing she was never getting back on. She hadn’t realized when she’d agreed to the lessons how high off the ground she’d be or how out of control she’d feel. Neither sensation set well with her. Mark had gotten her through her initial qualms by telling her funny stories about his childhood spent on the ranch with his brothers and the horses. Somehow he always managed to calm her misgivings simply by sharing some embarrassing mishap he’d endured. By making light of his own fears and failures, he’d alleviated hers, giving her the courage to try again. His genuine love of the four-legged creatures had rubbed off on her, and she couldn’t remember why she’d ever been afraid of horses to begin with. The horses on the ranch were as tranquil and gentle as their owner, Mark.

She’d also spent most of that day in a constant state of arousal. She wasn’t sure if Mark’s touches—boosts into the saddle, hugs when she did well, shoulder rubs to relax her—were intentionally meant to seduce her or just small kindnesses on his part, but she’d had to take a very cold shower upon returning to the inn. In the end, she’d spent most of that night dreaming of the handsome cowboy making love to her under the stars. She’d woken up more sexually frustrated than she’d been when she lay down.

Jewel snorted as she approached and batted her large nose at Bridget.

“You’re spoiling my damn horse,” Mark teased. “She used to be an amiable animal. Three days with you and she’s making demands.”

Bridget grinned and pulled the sugar cube she’d lifted from the inn’s kitchen out of her pocket. “I won’t apologize for that. We girls have to stick together.”

“So it’s a battle of the sexes, is it?” Matt asked.

She grinned at the fun-loving cowboy. She’d laughed more yesterday than she had in the entire previous year. Matt was a natural-born comedian as well as a talented musician. She’d learned he was part of a band and after much cajoling on her part, he’d cut their lesson short yesterday afternoon to play a few songs for her on the guitar. He was an incredible singer.

Watching him strum his acoustic guitar had sent her body into overdrive. When his deep, rich voice started singing a country love song, she feared she’d orgasm on the spot. Last night, she’d tossed and turned again, but instead of her gentleman cowboy, Mark, it had been Matt spicing up her dreams with visions of rough, hungry sex against the barn wall.

She’d woken up today weighted down by the realization she was falling…for both of them. She wasn’t sure whether to rail at the world or thank her lucky stars that her time in Wyoming was destined to be short. There was no way she could choose between the two men, but the thought of leaving and never seeing them again was too painful to contemplate.

“I don’t know if it’s a battle of the sexes or self-preservation. If we waited for men to give us our pleasures, we’d wait forever. Better we girls learn how to take care of ourselves.”

Matt stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms loosely around her waist. “I’d be more than happy to take care of some of those pleasures for you, Bridge. All you have to do is say the word.”

His close proximity didn’t feel strange or surprising. Probably because he’d touched her almost constantly the day before. Unlike his brother, she’d had no question about Matt’s seductive games. More than once, he’d wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to his side to press a friendly kiss to her head. He’d held her hand most of the day. Once he’d bent over and picked her up, tossing her playfully into a pile of hay before kneeling down and tickling her until she begged for mercy.

She glanced over her shoulder, enjoying Matt’s closeness. He smelled nice—cologne and horse and hot-blooded man scents mingled to drive her mad. Her hormones flared to life, kicking to the curb the common sense she’d battled to maintain. To hell with bad timing and bad judgment. She was hot and horny, tired and hungry. She offered Matt a sexy smile. “Oh yeah? And what exactly would that all-powerful word be?”

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